How do I know if Lisa Chen & Associates is the right fit for me?

We offer a complimentary 15-minute phone consultation. It's a chance to get to know us, understand our approach, and see if we align with your needs. The purpose of an initial consultation is to determine if you are a good fit for working together. You can expect a 15–20 minute conversation where you will have the opportunity to share your concerns, goals, and what you hope to achieve through therapy. This is also a chance for you to ask questions and get a sense of the therapist's approach and personality.

Our fees range from $180 to $350 per 50-minute session based on the clinician's experience, specialized training, and services provided. Lisa Chen's fees are $350 per 50-minute session for both individual and couples counseling. Licensed Client Session fees are $200 for individual and $225 for couples counseling per 50-minute session. Associate Clinician fees are $180 for individual and $200 for couples counseling per 50-minute session. We also reserve spots for clients requesting a sliding-scale rate to accommodate financial needs.

Do you accept insurance?

Lisa Chen & Associates are out-of-network providers. We provide monthly insurance statements ('Superbills') for you to seek partial reimbursement from your insurance company according to your policy. For questions about your out-of-network benefits, please contact your insurance carrier before scheduling.

What is your cancellation policy?

Weekly clients are allowed 3 free cancellations every 6 months, and bi-weekly clients are allowed 2 free cancellations every 6 months, beginning from the date of your first session. You will be responsible for payment for your normally scheduled session time for all cancelled appointments beyond this. Please provide at least 48 hours' notice for cancellations. You may always choose to reschedule and/or take sessions virtually to accommodate occasional scheduling conflicts.

How often should I expect to meet?

We recommend weekly therapy sessions for optimal progress. However, there are times when clients prefer to meet twice a week for more complex challenges. During your initial phone consultation, let us know if you are interested in more frequent sessions.

Are you offering in-person sessions?

Yes, we are seeing clients in our South Bay office located at 2615 Pacific Coast Highway, Suite 326, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254. We also offer telehealth sessions for California residents.

How do I get started with counseling?

The first step is to schedule an initial consultation by calling our office or submitting the contact form on our website. This allows us to understand your needs and match you with the best therapist for your situation. From there, we'll work with you to schedule ongoing sessions.

Signs of Workaholism That Don’t Look Like Overwork

When people think of workaholism, they picture someone staying at the office late every night, skipping meals, and missing every vacation. But workaholism isn’t always that obvious. In fact, some of the most deeply entrenched workaholics have strict boundaries around time—but still organize their entire identity around achievement, productivity, and success.

As a therapist who works with high-achievers and professionals at top companies, I’ve seen how workaholism can wear many masks. If you’re unsure whether your relationship with work is healthy, here are signs of workaholism that don’t always look like overwork.

1. You Can’t Relax Without Earning It First
You might take time off, but only after you've “earned” it with a packed week or completed checklist. Even your downtime feels conditional—like relaxation has to be justified.

“Rest is a reward, not a right” is a common unconscious belief among workaholics.

This often points to internalized pressure or self-worth tied to output.

2. Your Identity Feels Fragile Without a Goal
When you’re not working toward something—launching a project, climbing a ladder, improving a system—you feel directionless or even worthless. Achievement gives you a sense of self, and without it, there's anxiety.

This isn’t ambition. It’s enmeshment. Your self-image has become overly fused with performance.

3. You Constantly Multitask—Even When You Don’t Need To
Listening to a podcast while walking, answering emails while watching a movie, planning the week while brushing your teeth—there’s a chronic drive to optimize every moment.

This hyper-productivity isn’t just efficiency—it’s a nervous system that doesn’t feel safe slowing down.

4. You Struggle to Feel Proud of Your Work
Even when you reach milestones, they don’t land. You quickly move the goalpost or dismiss the achievement entirely. Celebrating feels indulgent or even dangerous, like it might make you soft.

Workaholism often includes perfectionism and a harsh inner critic that prevents any real sense of satisfaction.

5. You Feel Guilty When You’re Not “Useful”
Even outside of work, you measure your value by your output—doing chores, running errands, being productive.

Playfulness, hobbies, or pleasure for pleasure’s sake can feel frivolous or even threatening to your sense of self-worth.

6. You’re Always “On” Emotionally
You might not work long hours, but you're always mentally solving problems, helping others, or trying to improve something. You’re the one people rely on. The one who holds it together.

This over-functioning is often rooted in early survival strategies: if you're indispensable, you're safe. If you're calm and capable, you won’t be a burden.

7. You Experience Rest as Anxiety, Not Relief
When you finally do slow down, you feel irritable, unsettled, or numb. Rest doesn’t rejuvenate you—it activates shame or agitation.

This isn’t laziness—it’s a sign your nervous system may be stuck in chronic stress mode.

Workaholism Isn’t Just About Hours—It’s About Relationship

What defines workaholism isn’t just how much you work. It’s how you relate to work—emotionally, cognitively, and somatically. Do you feel safe without striving? Can you experience joy without being productive? Can you rest without guilt?

If not, there may be deeper patterns at play.

Therapy for Workaholism in High-Achievers
At Lisa Chen & Associates Therapy, we specialize in helping ambitious professionals slow down, heal the inner patterns that drive over-functioning, and reconnect with a sense of purpose that doesn’t come at the cost of your well-being.

We use depth-oriented, neuroscience-informed therapy approaches like EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and trauma-informed care to gently uncover the roots of compulsive productivity—so you can live with more freedom and peace.

Whether you're in California or Florida, our expert therapists offer secure telehealth sessions tailored to high-functioning individuals navigating complex emotional terrain.

Book a free consultation today to explore how we can support you.

Quick Summary:
Workaholism isn’t always about working late. It often shows up as perfectionism, emotional over-functioning, guilt during rest, or tying identity to achievement. If you relate to these subtler signs, therapy can help you understand the deeper emotional dynamics behind your relationship to work.

Learn more about therapy for high-achievers

FAQs:

Q1: Can I be a workaholic even if I work “normal” hours?
Yes. Workaholism is more about your emotional relationship to work than the number of hours you work. Even people with balanced schedules can be driven by internalized pressure, fear of failure, or a need for control.

Q2: What causes subtle forms of workaholism?
Often, it's rooted in early experiences where love, safety, or acceptance were earned through doing. High-functioning workaholics tend to internalize the belief that rest equals danger, or worth equals output.

Q3: How can therapy help with workaholism that doesn’t look extreme?
Therapy helps identify the protective strategies driving your behavior. At Lisa Chen & Associates, we use methods like EMDR and IFS to help high-achievers access self-compassion and create a new, healthier relationship with productivity.

Signs of Workaholism That Don’t Look Like Overwork

1. You Can’t Relax Without Earning It First You might take time off, but only after you've “earned” it with a packed week or completed checklist. Even your downtime feels conditional—like relaxation has to be justified.

2. Your Identity Feels Fragile Without a Goal When you’re not working toward something—launching a project, climbing a ladder, improving a system—you feel directionless or even worthless. Achievement gives you a sense of self, and without it, there's anxiety.

3. You Constantly Multitask—Even When You Don’t Need To Listening to a podcast while walking, answering emails while watching a movie, planning the week while brushing your teeth—there’s a chronic drive to optimize every moment.

4. You Struggle to Feel Proud of Your Work Even when you reach milestones, they don’t land. You quickly move the goalpost or dismiss the achievement entirely. Celebrating feels indulgent or even dangerous, like it might make you soft.

5. You Feel Guilty When You’re Not “Useful” Even outside of work, you measure your value by your output—doing chores, running errands, being productive.

6. You’re Always “On” Emotionally You might not work long hours, but you're always mentally solving problems, helping others, or trying to improve something. You’re the one people rely on. The one who holds it together.

7. You Experience Rest as Anxiety, Not Relief When you finally do slow down, you feel irritable, unsettled, or numb. Rest doesn’t rejuvenate you—it activates shame or agitation.